Sat 24th August 2013

3-2

Casuals manager and ex-Terror Mark Hans made the trip to Peacehaven on Wednesday to check out todays opponents and he will be very pleased with the results of his homework as Tooting fell to their second defeat of the campaign at a rainswept Waterside stadium.

Tooting had already survived one goal line clearance before a dribble through the defence and a low shot past Smith gave Casuals the lead..  The visitors failed to trouble the home keeper through the half and matters got worse seven minutes before the break when ex-Terror Connor French doubled the lead.. However, Frankie Sawyer was clearly not in the mood to sink into the growing puddles and conjured up a goal out of nothing with a cracking low 20 yarder.

The comeback survived for just seven minutes into the second half when another soft goal restored the two goal cushion. This did at last introduce a degree of urgency to Tootings play, forcing the home defence into a series of increasingly desperate tackles in and around their penalty area. Their luck ran out when the home keeper upended Colin Hartburn, giving Sol Pinnock the chance to reduce the deficit from the spot.

The worrying sight of Sawyer limping off was tempered by the impact of his replacement TJ Nkoma, who almost equalised with his first taste of action. The introduction of Jordan Cheadle also came close to paying dividends, but there was to be no late equaliser and so a clearly very unhappy Craig Tanner continues to wait for that illusive first win of his brief managerial career,

Team: Smith, Wilson, Gordon, Hall, Hartburn, Turner (Dalhouse), Palmer (J Cheadle), Quarm, Pinnock, Sawyer(Nkomo), Williams. Not used:

Mon 26th August 2013

5-1

Tootings season finally burst into life, largely thanks to a stunning hat trick from young TJ Nkomo.  Making his first start in place of injured Frankie Sawyer It took less than three minutes for him to show what we have so far only had tantalising glimpses of with a viciously curling shot that smashed into the top corner of net.

Ryan Palmer was another man in form, dancing to the goal line and into the six yard box to tee up a tantalising pass back for Nkomo, who could not quite stretch far enough to apply a finishing toe. But no matter, five minutes on and he had his second following a high speed breakaway completed with a confidently planted shot.

Half Time: Terrors 2-0 Corinthian Casuals

Casuals rallied at the start of the second half, but any hope of a comeback was destroyed in a two minute spell. Sol Pinnock broke through to strike his first of the day closely followed by TJs third - alone, unmarked and not offside, the ball dropped at his feet - keeper Bracken suddenly came alive to the threat, quickly followed by his alarmed defenders, but TJ was not to be denied, sidestepping the Casuals allsorts to slip the ball home whist practically lying on his back.

Twenty minutes into the half came two more quickfire chances; Lee Hall setting up TJ, forcing a decent parried save from Bracken, and then Sol Pinnock heading just wide from a Josh Turner Cross.

Casuals tried again, this time with more success in the form of a beautiful long range lob by Danny Green that looped over Smith into the top corner and then a couple of decent, but unsuccessful, efforts from the dangerous Joel Thompson.

Troy Williams had been on the receiving end of one or two very un-Casuals like tackles and it was one particularly spiteful lunge that saw Joe Hick depart with a straight red.  Five minutes from time and Bracken was unable to hold onto a long ranger from sub Jordan Cheadle, allowing the again excellent Sol Pinnock to tap home his second and complete Tootings first “Five For” since February.

Aaron Dalhouse, who also made his debut today in central defence, alongside Colin Hartburn, provided another reason for Terrors fans to leave the KNK feeling as bright as the bank holiday sunshine.

Team: Smith, Turner(J Cheadle), Gordon, Hall(Osei), Dalhouse, Hartburn, Palmer, Quarm(Simpson), Pinnock, Nkoma, Williams Not used: H Cheadle, Wilson

Sat 31st August 2013

1-0

Tooting were unable to break down a solid tanners defence having gone behind to  a quality strike midway through the first half. There was no lack of effort from the Terrors in what was, despite the shortage of goalmouth action, an absorbing contest in which defender/Midfielder Bashiru Alimi (Ex Kingstonian) and Forward Craig Watkins (Sutton, Hayes) both made their Tooting debuts

Terror’s best chance of the first half was created shortly after the goal when Sol Pinnock set up a tantalising opportunity with his superb left wing cross that just eluded several stretching teammates. After that the Tanners closed out the midfield.

The half time introduction of  Jordan Wilson and Elliot Simpson galvanised Tooting offensively, but almost proved costly at the back as the hone side created two good chances within the first quarter of an hour.

Word had reached town about TJ Nokomos dramatic debut and the 17 year old was closely shackled throughout and restricted to one serious shot midway through the half.. Simpson took full advantage of his game time to showcase his extensive passing abilities. However, despite having the lions share of the ball for the final twenty minutes or so, no-one was able to unlock the solid Leatherhead defence.

Overall a good performance for a team that is heading in the right direction AND PLAYED IN BLACK & WHITE STRIPES

Team: Smith, Turner, Gordon, Alimi, Dalhouse(Wilson), Hartburn, Palmer (Simpson), Quarm, Pinnock, Nkomo, Watkins. Not used: J Cheadle, H Cheadle, Osei, Aiken-Simon